Chapter 621: Returning to the Monastery

In this Millstone of Life and Death, Shen Lian already knew what Chen Jianmei wished to do – he wanted to obliterate himself completely, demonstrating the paramount swordcraft of annatā.

He knew that it was Chen Jianmei’s goal in swordcraft, but at that moment Shen Lian could not help but feel dejected. He was no longer miserly to his primordial spirit, sending out his divine thoughts as best as he could, saying, “Senior Apprentice-Brother, please think it over.”

Finally, Chen Jianmei thoroughly erased what was previously inerasable from his heart. He regained his former calm spiritual appearance and smiled, “Junior Apprentice-Brother.”

Those simple words were indeed more capable of conveying a message than thousands of words. Whatever that Chen Jianmei wanted to say and did not want to say were contained in those few words.

Throughout Shen Lian’s life, he has heard Chen Jianmei speak many times. However, none of those times could compare with the far-reaching emotions and profound gratitude expressed in the words said at that moment. It was the origin of friendship in the Qing Xuan orthodoxy and also the unsaid sincerity between the two. Even more so, it was their mutual worship and admiration towards Zhang Ruoxu.

If this was in the past, Shen Lian would have definitely dragged Chen Jianmei for a drink or two, preferably to the point of being absolutely wasted. The situation was different now. Shen Lian would rather forgo seeing this emotional and loyal side of Chen Jianmei ever again. For only with emotion can one be indifferent; only with a strong attachment can one truly let go.

No one could empathize with Chen Jianmei’s current emotional state better than Shen Lian. To dispose of all joy, to be indifferent towards both success and failure, and to renounce one’s ego in decision making.

In his heart, Shen Lian had numerous things he wished to tell Chen Jianmei, to the point where he hated himself for not stopping Chen Jianmei immediately. From his primordial spirit, there were violent waves like never before disrupting his originally persistent and inactive tranquil heart of Dao. Even the Seed of Heaven and Earth in the red cinnabar between Chen Jianmei’s eyes made an unprecedented sudden movement.

The more vigorously he resisted, the more sorrowful he became, which led to an even greater suppressive force from the Millstone of Life and Death. The Seed of Heaven and Earth was on the brink of subjugation, and yet he paid no mind to it. He only hoped to rush forward immediately and break Chen Jianmei’s Anattā Sword.

At this point, drops of fresh blood trickled down the bridge of Chen Jianmei’s nose. All the blood was absorbed by the Level Nine Blood Lotus at the base of his feet and his whole body emitted an enchantingly strange ray of light.

In some sense, one could say that the Blood Lotus was Chen Jianmei and Chen Jianmei was the Blood Lotus. Once the Anattā Sword was unleashed, there would naturally be no Chen Jianmei, and all the more there would be no Blood Lotus.

Any of the self-detonating suicide techniques similar to the Sky Demon Disintegration Method were incomparable to the might and power of Chen Jianmei’s Anattā Sword technique. It was a sword that had evolved to a paramount swordcraft, a sword which, for a Dao practitioner at the pinnacle of being celestial, meant sacrificing everything.

Only with great sacrifice can one bring about great changes.

Chen Jianmei smiled and stabbed. Brother, oh brother, even I myself did not foresee my actions today.

Tianyi was absolutely frightened. A horrifying vital force disseminated from the Blood Lotus, so terrifying that even Tianyi was trembling in fear.

Further away, the war with Noble Daoist Lu Ya was still ongoing. Lady Mother of the Chariot, Emperor Xia, and the Lunar Deity, were all startled by this strange occurrence.

Even Daoist Lu Ya, who had the highest attainment, and Lady Mother of the Chariot, who is the most knowledgeable, experienced the venerability of Chen Jianmei’s Anattā Sword.

If anyone of them were in Chen Jianmei’s position, they would not have been able to make such a sacrifice.

He was willing to relinquish his ‘self’. Even if he could prove himself and take the position of the highest Daoist Master, how would he return? There would not be any more meaning to it. However, this was indeed the meaning to it, for only when there is no self can there be an understanding of Dao.

The origin of the Millstone of Life and Death’s power was from the Dao of Life and Death that was inherent in the Register of Life and Death. It was the perpetual Great Way of the universe. In the face of such strength, only a Dao strength that was equal in rank could possibly break it.

Was all this worth it? No one except Chen Jianmei could answer this.

The significance of what was worth it and what was not lied only with those who made the sacrifice, not with anyone else.

Chen Jianmei gazed intently into the sky. Before this, he never realized how emotionally moving the sky could be, and he also never felt that he would reach such a brilliant point in his life.

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The laws of heaven, human reincarnation, and swordcraft. All of these were not worth mentioning.

The blood had run dry and the Blood Lotus blossomed perfectly and swayed gracefully. It was indescribably beautiful.

In the end, the Blood Lotus gradually blossomed into a long blood-red sword. It was three feet three inches long, and one inch wide. It serenely reached Chen Jianmei’s grasp.

He took one step into the void and aimed to stab the Millstone of Life and Death that was just in front of him.

There was no universally shocking explosion of Qi of vitality. There was no desolate sword aura. Oddly enough, the Millstone of Life and Death crumbled at this very moment.

At the same time, Noble Daoist Lu Ya’s Mahāvairocana Body was defeated. There were cracks on Lady Mother of the Chariot’s divine form. Lu Ya was also unable to transform into the rainbow light. Emperor Xia wielded the knife and stood, his hand that was previously as steady as Mount Tai shuddered uncontrollably.

The silent law of slaughter had long ago infringed upon their bodies.

The ‘Anattā Sword’ could surprisingly target all of them at once. Within a short time, they were unable to continue their battle.

The Register of Life and Death rushed forth unceasingly, but in the end, its source was inhibited. In an instant, the Millstone of Life and Death started to disperse. Finally, not a trace of it was found.

Shen Lian recovered his freedom and saw Chen Jianmei who was walking towards him from the sky.

From outward appearance alone, Shen Lian could see no discernible injury on Chen Jianmei. Shen Lian’s heart virtually sank to an all-time low. He could only feel that Chen Jianmei’s body was emptily swept into nothingness, and was devoid of any vital force.

When Chen Jianmei went closer to Shen Lian, the longsword once again pierced out, and at that moment the light of the water spouted out of the void. Inside it was another world, one which was incredibly familiar to Shen Lian.

Shen Lian extended his hand, wishing to touch Chen Jianmei. However, with the speed of lightning and flint fire, Chen Jianmei transformed into ash. That was the truly the doing of the Anattā Sword.

Chen Jianmei was no longer there. Only the blood red killing sword remained.

It silently fell to Shen Lian’s feet.

Shen Lian’s bent over and picked up the sword, and turning over to Lady Mother of the Chariot, Noble Daoist Lu Ya, Tianyi, and the Lunar Deity, he gazed at them for a moment. Soon after, he walked into the light of the water, without turning back. Shen Lian would return again.

…

The Qing Xuan Daoist Sect was now undoubtedly the second largest Daoist Sect in the cultivation community, largely because of its propensity to teach students according to their strengths, with flexibility instead of rigidity. There were a large number of cultivation sects that were now associated with Qing Xuan. These various sects all bore different names respectively and passed-down their own respective techniques, but without exception they considered themselves to be branches of the Qing Xuan Daoist Sect. All of them paid tribute to Qing Xuan as their sect leader.

In addition, the many concealed powerhouses of cultivation in the islands across the vast ocean were largely associated with Qing Xuan in multiple ways. If Lu Jiuyuan did not suppress all of the Xuantian Sect, they might have given up their number one position to Qing Xuan a long time ago.

Presently the headmaster of the Qing Xuan Daoist Sect was Chen Jinchan. He was the successor of Shen Lian, the previous generation of Qing Xuan’s chief. Chen Jinchan has had thousands of years of cultivation. Unless the laws of nature changed, everyone unanimously regarded him as the next Shen Lian, and the first celestial to transcend beyond the mortal world.

Qing Xuan did not only have Chen Jinchan who was a delicate wind deity of good judgment, it also had the number one sword master celestial in the world – the rākṣasa-fairy Fan Yanying. Ever since the respected master of the Taishang Daoist Sect suffered defeat at the hands of the rākṣasa-fairies, Fan Yanying’s stock shot up higher than Fairy Ziling in the past.

If it came down to a real battle between Chen Jinchan and Fan Yanying, some people felt that even with Chen Jinchan’s high cultivation, there would be an eighty to ninety percent chance he would lose to the rākṣasa-fairy.

After all, Fan Yanying had been passed the Dao of Killing Sword by her master and has already surpassed Chen Jianmei during the latter’s time in the wind.

With those two to suppress the Qing Xuan Daoist Sect, even if the Demon Master resurfaced and caused demonic chaos to the world, perhaps he would not rashly intrude Qing Xuan.

Suddenly something happened. In Taiwei Pavilion, the most strictly off-limits area inside Qing Xuan, the ancient poplar suddenly bloomed. Its abundant vitality and wafting delicate scent startled all the distinguished cultivators of Qing Xuan.